Leveling machine



u 18, Z s. s. DAVENPORT 1.717.372

LEVELING MACHINE Filed July 20,. 1927 Patented June 18, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

STANLEY s. nAvENroR or BRoCKToN, MASSACHUSETTS, AssreNoR To UNITED srion'j MACHINERY CoRroRATroN, or PATn soN, Nnw JnRsnY, A CoRroRATIoN or NEW JE SEY.

LEVELING MACHINE.

. Application fiied'iul 20, 1927. Serial No. 207,249.

This invention relates to machines for applying rolling pressure to the bottoms of shoes, for example to level the soles, and is herein illustrated in its application to a wellknown type of machine for that purpose features of which are shown and described in various United States Letters Patent, including Letters Patent No. 1,208,895 granted on December 19, 1916 uponan application of William C. Baxter. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to machines of that particular type.

In automatic machines of the type illustratedin the above-mentioned Letters Patent the leveling operation is performed by relative movement of the leveling roll and a shoe support lengthwise of the shoe and in the leveling operation the roll is automatically controlled with respect to tipping movement about an axis extending lengthwise of the shoe to position it in proper relation to diiferent portions of the bottom of the shoe. It is desirable that during a portion of the leveling operation on the forepart of the shoe the roll be so positioned that its axis is substantially parallel to the bottom of the forepart, so that it will apply its pressure uniformly across the forepart, and the roll-tipping mechanism is accordingly adjusted with that object in view. It is found, however, that, as different shoes are positioned in the machine, there may be a substantial variation in the lateral slope of the bottom of the forepart, resulting, for example, from variations in the position in different lasts of the spindle hole which receives the heel spindle on which the last is' mounted in the machine, so that in operating on some shoes the. roll will bear somewhat harder on one side of the forepart than on the other side at that time in the cycle when it is desirable that the pressure applied across the forepart be substantially uniform.

In view of the above considerations, the present invention provides a novel construction such that the roll will adjust itself to the lateral slopeof the bottom of the forepart of each shoe, if that slope differs from the slope for which the automaticroll-tipping mechanism is adjusted, at that time in the cycle when it is intended-that the axis of the roll shall be substantially parallel to the bottom of the .forepart.

As herein illustrated, the roll is so mounted as to permit it to tip on a bearing located within it and thereby to adjust itself to the slope of the shoe bottom when conditions require it and springs also located within theroll are arranged normally to centralize it with respect to such tipping movement by pressures directed lengthwise of its axis while permitting it to tip against their yielding resistance. In thus adjusting itself to,

the lateral slopes of the bottoms of theforeparts of different shoes, the roll is never required to tip more than a very short distance and the invention further provides meansfor preventing the roll from tipping, in response to pressure of the shoe thereon, to any sub stantial extent farther than is necessary to meet the varying conditions above-mentioned. Insurance is thus afforded that, duringthat part of the cycle of the machine when the roll is so inclined as to concentrate its pressure on the edge portion of the sole, the roll will apply adequate pressure in the desired direction.

The novel features of'the invention will now be more particularly described withreference to the accompanying drawings and thereafter pointed out in the claims.

, In the drawings,

Fig. 1' is a perspective view of a portion of an automatic leveling machine of the type shown in the above-mentioned Letters Patent, with the present invention embodied therein; and I how the leveling roll is mounted andcontrolled.

the shoe, with the object of positioning the roll at times in suchrelation to the shoe as to applyits pressure uniformly across the sole Fig 2 is a cross-sectional view showing and at other times in such relationas to con centrate its pressure at one side or the other,

the general organization of the machine are well-known and require no detailed description.

As different shoes are positioned in the machine, there may be a substantial variation in the degree of lateral slope of the bottom of the forepart, so that the roll, under the control of the automatic tipping mechanism, will sometimes tend to bear somewhat harder on on one side of the forepart than on the other side at that time in the cycle when its pressure should be substantially uniform across the shoe bottom. Such a variation may be due, for example, to lack of uniformity in the positions in different lasts of the spindle holes that receive the heel spindleld. For purposes of this invention the roll 16 is according. 1y so mounted as to permit it to adjust itself automatically to such variations in the lateral slope of the shoe bottom. By reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the roll is mounted on a spherical. bearing surface formed on a member 20 which is positioned within the roll midway between its opposite ends, the member 20 being integral with or fast on a sleeve 22 which is mounted to turn on a spindle 24; carried by the holder 18. To facilitate the assembly of the parts, the roll comprises an outer shell 26 which encircles a two-part inner shell 28 provided with faces formed to fit the bearing member 20. It will be seen that the roll may thus tip in any direction relatively to the spindle 2d on the spherical surface of the member 20. For normally centralizing the roll with respect to such tipping movement, while permitting it to tip, against yielding resistance, there are provided at opposite ends of the bearing member 20 conical coil springs each of which bears at its smaller end on the member 20 and at its larger end upon an inwardly extending flange 32 formed on the inner shell 28. These springs thus perform their centralizing function by pressures directed lengthwise of the axis of the roll.

It will be understood that attimes in the cycle of the machine the roll 16 is tipped to such an extent as to concentrateits pressure along the edge of the shoe bottom, and in .or-

der that the roll may at such times be effective to apply its pressure to the sole in the desired direction, there is further provided means for preventing the roll from tipping to any substantial extent farther thanis necessary to conform to the above-mentioned variations in the slope of the bottom of the forepart. For this purpose there are threaded on the opposite ends of the sleeve 22 collars 34- of greater diameter than the sleeve for engagement with the flange 32 of the inner shell 28 of the roll to limit the tipping of the roll and provide a rigid support against its tipping movement beyond the limit thus determined. The collars 34 also serve as abutments for springs 36 arranged at opposite ends of the sleeve 22 to centralize the roll with respect to bodily movement lengthwise of its axis, while permitting such movement at times in the cycle of the machine, as common heretofore in machines of the type illustrated.

The construction provided by this inven tion permits the roll to adjust itself to variations in the lateral slope or contour of the shoe bottom not only at the timein the cycle hereinbefore mentioned, but at other times, for example in passing from the forepart to the shank before the roll has received its extreme tipping movement to position it in proper relation to the side of the shank; and in this respect also the invention contributes to improved results in the leveling operation;

' It will be seen that the invention, in its illustrative embodiment, provides a simple and compact construction and arrangement of parts for the purposes in view, since the bearing member on which the roll is mounted to tip and the springs for controlling its tipping movements are located within the roll.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentof the United States is 1. In a machineof the class described, the combination with a shoe support, of a roll arranged to applypressure to the bottom of a shoe on said support, said roll being arranged to extend across the bottom of the shoe and mounted for tippingmovement as a unit to permit it to adjust'itself to the lateral inclination of the shoe bottom, and spring means arranged to oppose yielding resistance to such tipping movement of the roll by pressure directed lengthwise of its axis.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a shoe support, of a roll arranged to apply pressure to thebottom of a shoe on said support, said roll being arranged to extend across the bottom of the shoe and mounted for tipping movement as a unit to permit it to ad ust itself to the lateral iiiclination of the shoe bottom, and springs arranged to apply pressure to the opposite end portions of the roll in directions lengthwise of its axis and thereby to oppose yielding resistance to its tipping movement.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a shoe support, of a roll comprising an integral member formed and arranged to extend continuously across the bottom of a shoe on said support from one side of the shoe bottom to the other side, said roll being mounted for tipping movement to permit it to adjust itself .to the lateral in-- clination of the shoe bottom, and spring means within the roll arranged to oppose yielding resistance to its tipping movement.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a shoesupport, of a roll arranged to apply pressure to the bottom of a shoe on said support, said roll being mounted for tipping movement as a unit to permitit to'adjust itself to the lateral inclination of the shoe bottom, and springs within the roll arranged to oppose yielding resistance to its tipping movement by pressure directed lengthwise of its axis.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a shoe support, of a roll arranged to apply pressure to the bottom of a shoe on said support, said roll being mounted for tipping movement as a unit to permit it to adjust itself to the lateral inclination of the shoe bottom, and conical coil springs within the roll arranged with their larger ends di- 7 rected outwardly against the end portions pt the roll to oppose yielding resistance to its tipping movement.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a shoe support, of a roll arranged to apply pressure to the bottom of a shoe on said support, a bearing member within the roll on which it is mounted for tipping movement as a unit in operating on the shoe, and spring means within the roll arranged to oppose yielding resistance to its tipping movement.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a shoe support, of a roll arranged to apply pressure to the bottom of a shoe on said support, and means within the roll constructed to provide a rigid bearing on which the roll is mounted for universal tipping movements as a unit in operating on the shoe.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a shoe support, of a roll arranged to apply pressure to the bottom of a shoe on said support, means within the roll constructed to provide a rigid bearing on which the roll is mounted for universal tipping movements as a unit in operating on a shoe, and spring means arranged normally to centralize the roll with respect to such tipping movements.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with'a shoe support, of a roll arranged to apply pressure to the bottom of a shoe on said support, a member within the roll on which it is mounted for tipping movement as a unit, and a spring arranged to bear at one end on said member and to press at its other end on the roll lengthwise of the axis of the roll to oppose yielding resistance to such tipping movement.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a shoe support, of a roll arranged to apply pressure to the bottom of a shoe on said support, a member within the roll substantially midway between its opposite ends on which the roll is mounted for tipping movement, and springs arranged to bear oppositely against said member and against the roll inside of the latter to oppose yielding resistance to the tipping movement of the roll.

11. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with a shoe support, of a roll arranged toapply pressur'e'to'the bottom of a shoe on said support,*a' member within the roll formed and arranged to providea spherical bearing on which the roll is mounted for tipping movement in operatingon the shoe, and spring means arranged to oppose yielding resistance to the tipping of the roll.

ranged to apply pressure to the bottom of a shoe on said support, a member within the roll formed and arranged to provide a spherical bearing on which theroll is mounted for tipping movement in operating on the shoe, and springs at the opposite sides of said member arranged to apply pressure to the roll in directions lengthwise of its axis and thereby to oppose yieldingresistance to its tipping movement.

14. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with a shoe support, of a roll arranged to apply pressure to the bottom of a shoe on said support, said roll being mounted for tipping movement as a unit to permit it to adjust itself to the lateral inclination of the shoe bottom, spring means arranged to oppose yielding resistance to such tipping movement of the roll, and means for limiting said tipping movement.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a shoe support, of a roll arranged to apply pressure to the bottom of a shoe on said support, said roll being mounted for tipping movement as a. unit, spring means within the roll arranged to oppose yielding resistance to such tipping movementby pres,- sure directed lengthwise of the axis of the roll, and means also within the roll for limiting its tipping movement.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a shoe support, of a roll arranged to apply pressure to the bottom of a shoe on said support, a member Within the roll substantially midway between its opposite ends on which the roll is mounted for tipping movement, springs at opposite sides of said member arranged to oppose yielding resistance, to the tippingof the roll, and members within the opposite end portions of the roll for limiting the tipping movement of the roll.

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a shoe support, of a roll arranged to apply pressure to the bottom of a shoeon said support, said roll being mounted for bodily movement as a unit lengthwise of its axis in operating on a shoe and also for tipping movement, spring means for normally centralizing the roll with respect to movement lengthwise of its axis, and spring means arranged to centralize the roll with respect to tipping movement by pressure directed lengthwise of its axis.

18. Ina machine of the class described, the combination with a shoe support, of a roll arranged to apply pressure tot-he bottom of a shoe on said support, said roll being mounted for bodily movement as a unit in opposite directions lengthwise of its axis in operating on a shoe and also for tipping movement, springs at opposite ends of the roll for normally centralizing it with respect to movement lengthwise of its axis, and springs within the roll arranged to oppose yielding resistance to its tipping movement by pressure directed lengthwise of its axis.

In testimony whereof I have signed in name to this specification.

STANLEY S. DAVENPORT. 

